Storyline: Minnesota star running back Adrian Peterson is hopeful of returning from a torn left knee ligament that he sustained in Game 15 last season. ACL injuries usually take a full year to recover from. Without him, the Vikings are pedestrian at best on offense with second-year QB Christian Ponder and RB Toby Gerhart. Maurice Jones-Drew ended his holdout in Jacksonville this week, but whether he is ready to go at anywhere near his 2011 form when he was an All-Pro running back is highly questionable.

Did you know? Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey spent six seasons playing tight end for the Vikings from 1983-88.